betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
old rice; rice remaining from the previous year's harvest
dish of fish or meat flavoured with soy sauce, mirin, etc., coated with starch and then deep-fried
society; the world; the times
distant future; inevitable future; places one goes to
tasting (food or drink) for poison; checking the taste (of a dish); seeing how something tastes
to harm; to hurt; to injure; to fail to ...; to miss one's opportunity to ...
to intensify; to be excited; to fly into a rage; to dash against; to encourage
to be a bad influence (on something); to corrupt; to poison
box seat; (restaurant) booth; box (theater, sports stadium, etc.)
to use tact; to exercise discretion; to be tactful; to be thoughtful; to have the sense (to do); to take a hint
work (e.g. of art); production; harvest; cultivation; technique
angular; angular-shaped; sharp-pointed
exhibit; article on display
precious orb; Cintamani stone; wish-fulfilling jewel; hōju; uppermost spherical part of a pagoda finial
effect; efficacy; validity; potency
having no idea; having no clue
to raise; to lift; to hang up; to raise prices (artificially, deliberately)
fixed game; bid-rigging; put-up job; contest in which the victor is practically known beforehand (e.g. due to unfair conditions or an obvious difference in strength)
being able to hear something (clearly); clearness of a sound; reputation; renown; impression (that something gives off); respectability
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
in a few days; in the near future; soon; one of these days
to all appearances; no matter how you look at it
small-format paperback book; pocket paperback
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
poetry anthology; collection of poems; collected poems
to compete (with each other); to contend for; to vie for; to rival
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
manufacturer (esp. a major company); producer; maker; device for making things; person who creates things
to be powered on; to be turned on
to understand; to make out
language of one's country; mother tongue; native language
gal (unit of gravitational acceleration)
elder brother; one's senior; older man; man older than oneself
to kick; to treat (a person) poorly; to walk all over (someone)
direction; way; point of the compass; cardinal direction; method; means
direction; district; area; field (e.g. of study); sphere; quarter
opposite direction; reverse; retrorse